Women in High School Principalships: A Comparison of Four Case Studies from a Virginia Public School District from 1970 - 2000

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Four case studies were developed of women who were promoted to high school principalships in a public school district in Virginia, 1970 â 2000. Using qualitative research methods, data were obtained through interviews, school system documents, and written media. The software package Ethnograph was used to code and analyze interview data. Three themes resulted from cross-case analysis: school district policies, school district culture, and womenâ s career aspirations. Grounded in data from coding and analysis, a theory evolved that changes that occurred over time opened leadership opportunities for these four women, changes that emerged from societyâ s pressure to the institution of education, then the individual. Further research is needed to corroborate this theory of change that impacted womenâ s careers in education administration.